Neelam Dhar, a well-known artist from Kashmir, presented her works of abstract art in exuberant colours amid much fanfare and applause by art critcs and lovers.

The show, titled 'Uncovered, My Abstract Body' and portraying the feel and flow of life with all its coloured nuances and experiences, was inaugurated by Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi yesterday.

Ms Dhar, basically a figurative artist, said the will of ''trying something new'' led her to venture into this arena of abstract art.

''Still, I call myself a figurative artist. I don't call myself an abstract artist, but it just happened to me,'' she said, giving reasons for her myriad innovations.

''No change makes people disappointed. There should be something new,'' she elaborated, adding the works in display were results of a good one-and-a-half-year labour.

'Many faces,' ' Still life,' 'Face,' 'Would be mothers,' 'Lady in Abstract,' 'Lips,' were some of the titled works among a vast pool of creations that displayed the creativity of the artist.

Art critic Sunnet Chopra threw light on the nature of the work and its requirement, saying, '' There is much variety in this type of work. An artist's capacity of inward expression is required in this type of contemporary art.'' ''It is that type of innovation which an artist creates from his mind. The happenings of life are evident in this type of work,'' said Mr Chopra.

He lavished praise on the works of Ms Dhar, saying the her creations were related to the events of life. ''She is a serious artist who is coming to a level,'' he said.

Labelling the endeavour of Miss Dhar ''a rare attempt'', Mr Singhvi expressed optimism that this new form of art had vast potential in India and abroad, but maintained that the best of times were yet to come.

The young artist, venturing into the abstract art and by her beautiful protrays of feel and flow of life, won the hearts of many art lovers. The four-day exposition is surely going to draw admirers.

The artist, too, promised to innovate something new in her next attempt. ''It was figurative. This time it is abstract. Next time it would be new,'' she said.